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Patrick Tones Down Talk Of Gas Tax Hike

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BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Deval Patrick is giving the state Department of Transportation more time to complete a report on financing the state’s transportation system.

The report was due to be made public on Monday, but Patrick on Friday said that after reviewing a draft he told officials that “a little more work” was needed. He set Jan. 14 as the new deadline for finishing the report.

The governor said he wanted more discussion of how transportation improvements can help drive economic growth across Massachusetts.

The report is expected to present Patrick with options for closing a huge gap in transportation funding.

The governor has pushed for a hike in the state’s gas tax in the past, but now says he’s not sure it’s a solution to the state’s transportation financing woes.